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VCU Health of Women 2023 | Emerging Topics in Women’s Health: A Focus on Uterine Health

May 18, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

For more than 30 years, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) has led interdisciplinary groups of researchers, health care providers, patient advocates, and policy leaders to address diseases and conditions that disproportionately, differently, or exclusively affect women. SWHR’s work in the uterine health space has been leveraged to inform disease prevention and treatment and to provide guidance for research, clinical trials, and effective policy solutions.

This symposium discussed advancements in research and women’s health care, with special emphasis on uterine health conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and infertility. Panelists presented strategies as to how research, clinical, and policy stakeholders can collaborate to address persistent research gaps, disparities, and unmet needs in uterine health. Attendees engaged in Q&A with the panel to discuss approaches to improve uterine health outcomes for women across the lifespan. 

 

Find more information about the VCU Health of Women 2023 event here

Panelists

Ayman Al-Hendy, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACOG, CCRP
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Chicago
Ayman Al-Hendy, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACOG, CCRP
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Chicago

Ayman Al-Hendy, MD, PhD, is a highly skilled gynecologist who specializes in comprehensive women’s health. Dr. Al-Hendy delivers expert care for complex gynecologic conditions, including uterine fibroids, infertility and endometriosis. His expertise in minimally invasive gynecologic endoscopy (hysteroscopy and laparoscopy) allows Dr. Al-Hendy to diagnose and treat polyps, fibroids, bleeding disorders and more with minimal or no scarring, faster recovery and less pain.

As a physician-scientist, Dr. Al-Hendy is also dedicated to using basic and translational research to better understand the cause of gynecologic conditions and investigate new treatments that offer improved outcomes and overall quality of life. His work has been published in several, highly respected, peer-reviewed journals, including Reproductive Sciences, Scientific Reports, New England Journal of Medicine and Cell Transplantation.

Jhumka Gupta, ScD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University
Jhumka Gupta, ScD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University

Jhumka Gupta, ScD, MPH, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health within the College of Health and Human Services. Her research program applies a social epidemiology framework towards advancing the science of gender-based violence against women and girls (e.g. intimate partner violence, sex trafficking). Specifically, she investigates the mental and reproductive health implications of gender-based violence, and conducts intervention studies aimed at reducing violence against women. Her primary focus is with vulnerable populations, both within and outside of the United States, and includes refugees, immigrants, and communities impacted by conflict. She has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications on these topics. She also serves as Associate Editor of BMC International Health and Human Rights.  She has recently applied her social epidemiology lens to examine stigma and perceptions of endometriosis.

Tanika Gray Valbrun
Patient Advocate and Founder, The White Dress Project
Tanika Gray Valbrun
Patient Advocate and Founder, The White Dress Project

Tanika Gray Valbrun is an award-winning Journalist and Educator with a passion for women’s health. After her personal struggles with uterine fibroids, Tanika’s passion for women’s health inspired her to, create The White Dress Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing awareness, raising funding and increasing education about the uterine fibroid epidemic.

As the founder of The White Dress Project, Tanika has successfully worked with doctors, health advocates and elected officials in multiple states to get legislation passed declaring July as “Fibroids Awareness Month”. Recognized as a thought leader and patient advocate for uterine health, she has also spoken at various events travelled domestically and internationally.

In September 2017, Tanika’s thought leadership, led to a partnership between, The White Dress Project and The Fibroid Treatment Clinic, to amplify awareness and education about uterine treatment options to women in South Africa. While in South Africa, Tanika participated in multiple media interviews with global media outlets and connected directly with the people of South Africa through special events in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Additionally, working with national health advocates, doctors and Tony-award winning actress, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Tanika produced a stellar movie screening of the Oprah Winfrey produced and Emmy-nominated, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The event highlighted the life of a medical icon, Henrietta Lacks, and brought together community members to amplify the importance of cervical cancer awareness.  Tanika serves as a Community Partner with the United State of Women, a national organization created by former First Lady of The United States, Michelle Obama, for any woman who sees that we need a different America for all women to survive and thrive — and wants to work collectively to achieve it.

In addition to encouraging women to be their own health advocates, Tanika works as a Content Producer for the Cable News Network (CNN), where she has been awarded three coveted Peabody Awards for her contributions in journalism. Tanika works closely with CNN’s 1000 media affiliates and manages multiple projects including national and international newsgathering, and demonstrating strong editorial and legal judgment through investigating, pitching and developing stories to serve all of CNN’s and HLN’s platforms. She is the recipient of Georgia Trend’s and Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40” Awards.

Tanika earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Florida International University and University of Maryland with a Certification in Radio and Television.

Lindsey Horan, MA
Chief Advocacy Officer, Society for Women’s Health Research
Lindsey Horan, MA
Chief Advocacy Officer, Society for Women’s Health Research

Horan provides oversight of SWHR’s government relations, communications, and advocacy functions. A member of SWHR’s senior team, she is responsible for helping to drive SWHR’s policy agenda, build relationships with key stakeholders and policymakers, and guide activities to improve women’s health through science, policy, and education.

Previously, Horan served as the assistant director of government affairs for the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), where she was responsible for developing and implementing AADR’s federal policy agenda, spanning federal budget and appropriations issues, international scientific collaboration, scientific workforce matters, and tobacco policy.

Prior to AADR, Horan served as a senior manager for advocacy at AcademyHealth, where she supported efforts to raise the visibility and promote the value of health services and systems research.

Horan received her master’s degree in global communication, with a concentration in public diplomacy, from The George Washington University. She received her ABJ in public relations and her BA in international affairs from the University of Georgia.